Switch.



A. E. SQUYARS.

SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 18,1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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A. E. SQUYARS.

SWITCH. v APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18,1908.

Patented A111120, 1909.

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Wi hwooeo y ALEXANDER E. SQUYARS, OF MAXTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 19,09.

Application filed August 18, 1908. Serial No. 449,104.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDERA E. SQUYARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maxton, in the county of Robeson and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic switches for steam or electric railways and has for its object to provide improved means for effecting the movement of the switch thereby to permit a train to pass onto or from a siding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch including depressible track devices operable by the wheels of a passing car to move the switch to open position, suitable operating mechanism being provided for automatically closing the switch after the passage of a train onto or from the siding.

A further object is to provide improved means for locking the depressible track devices in inoperative position, and means operable from the car for releasing the track devices thereby to permit the latter to be actuated by the car wheels for effecting the movement of the switch.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devicesso as to increase their utility, durability and efliciency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following` description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. 4

ln the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a plan view of an automatic switch constructed in accordance with my invention showing the switch points in closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the switch points in open position. Fig. 3 is a transverse' sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the track devices in inoperative posit-ion. Fig. dis a similar view showing the track devices actuated by the car wheel to effect the movement of the switch. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5"5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one end of the locking member and its associated parts. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view showing the manner of' mounting the tread piece on-lts depressible support.

F ig. 8 is a side elevation of the car operating mechanism.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of' the figures of the drawings.

The improved switch forming the subject matter of the present invention'may be used on either steam or electric railways and by way of illustration is shown in connection with a steam railway in which 5 designates the main rails, 6 the siding andA 7 the switch points operatively connected by a bridle bar 8, as shown.

Secured in any suitable manner to some of I the cross ties 9 is a rigid bed' plate 10 on which. is slidably mountedin suitable keepers 11 a longitudinally disposed actuating member or rod 12.

One end ofthe rod 12 is connected through the medium of a link 13 with the crank arm 14 of an operating shaft 15, tho latter being mounted in suitable bearings and having its opposite ends extended longitudinally beyond the adjacent rails of the main track and provided "a ith angularly disposed 'fingers 16 constituting tappets.

Disposed on opposite sides of the track adjacent the tappets 16 are spaced bars 17 having their upper surfaces curved downwardly in opposite directions so as to assist in guiding the operating member carried by the ca r in engagement vwith said tappets, as will be iore fu ly explained hereinafter.

The pivoted end of the actuating member or bar 12'is provided 'with an enlarged head 18 having a transverse slot 19 formed therein, one vfall of which is cut af-:ay to form a locking shoulder 20.

Pivotally mounted at 21 on the bed plate are a series of levers 22 each having one end thereof pivctally connected through the medium of a link 23 n ith the actuating bar 12, there being notches or recesses 24 formed, in the bedplate at the opposite ends ofthe levers 22, as sho vsn.

The notched edge of the hed plate 10 is spaced from the adjacent main rail5, and in terposed between said main rail' hed plate are one or more depressible supports or` bars 25, the latter being normally and yieldably supported in horizontal ali'nement with the upper surface of the bedplate by suitable coiled springs 2G.

Slidably mounted for lateral movement; on the depressible supports are tread pieces 27 having their' lower portions forme( Vwith 22 and is arranged to slide within the saine j when the tread piece and yieldable support 25 are depressed, the notches 24 permitting vertical movement of the arms 31 'when the track device is actuated.

The tread pieces 27 are normally supported in inoperative position on the notched edge of the bed plate 10 so as to prevent live stock from treading on the saine and actuating the switch, said tread pieces being mov- 'i able to operative position above the depressieited on the actuating bar or rod 12.

A stop lug is rigidly secured to and i movable with the bridle bar 8, said lug being adapted to bear against the adjacent end of the actuating bar 12 at the recess 19 for limiting the extensible movement of said bar.

Mounted adjacent one of the rails of the siding 6 is an auxiliary tread piece 46 havng its upper longitudinal edge normally and yieldably supported above the tread surface of the rail by suitable coiled springs 47, the lower surface of the auxiliary tread piece being arranged to bear against the adjacent crank arm 4S of a stub shaft 4).

The opposite crank arm of the stub shaft 49 is connected with one end of a lever 51, to the other end of which is connected a cord or cable 52, which latter passes around a sheave or pulley 53 arranged above the pulley 37 and mounted for rotation in a suitable bracket or casing 54, the end of the cable 52 being anchored in any suitable Inanble bars 27 when a longitudinal pull is ex- Journaled in suitable bearings betv. een l some of the cross ties are a plurality of auxiliary rock shafts 32 each provided v., ith a crank arm 33 and having one end thereof extended beneath the bed plate 10 and proner to the bridle bar 8.

A spring is preferably interposed between one of the switch rails 7 and the bracket 54 to assist in returning the switch y points to closed position after the passage vided with an angularly disposed 'linger 34 i which enters an adjacent eye or clip 35 sesupport 25.

Secured to the crank arin 33 is a chain,

cable or other iiexible inedium 36, Twhich latof a car.

T he actuating bar and its associated parts are preferably housed in a suitable casing or box 56 disposed adjacent the tread piece cured to the bottom of the depressib e bar or 1 i 58, which latter is normally and yieldably end thereof is provided with a segmental notch or recess 40 for engagement with a pin 41 carried by the bridle bar, as shown.

A leaf spring 42 serves to normally and yieldably support the catch end of the pawl in engagement with the head 18 of the actuz ating member 12 so that when a longitudinal pull is exerted on said member and the shoulder 20 registers with the catch end of said pawl, the latter will bear against the shoulder and thus hold the actuating member in retracted position.

A coiled spring 43 is fastened to a suitable support between the main rails 5 with one end thereof extended laterally and the terminal thereof bent to form an angularly disposed arm 44, which latter passes through an elongated slot or opening 45a in the bed plate 10 for attachment to the actuating bar 12, the tendency of the spring 43 being normally to support the actuating bar 12 in extended position.

supported in retracted position by a spring 59, one end of which is secured to the journal box and the opposite end thereof arranged to engage the free end of the piston rod, as shown.

Pivotally mounted in suitable bearings on the car truck is an oscillating frame 61,

l one end of which is bent to form a lip 62 adapted to ride up the curved faces ci the guide bars 17 for engagement with the tappets 16 when said frame is moved to lowered position.

One end of a rope or cable 63 is secured to the frame 61 with its opposite end passing over a sheave or pulley 64 for attachment to the piston rod 5S.

A tube or hose 65 forms a connection between one end of the cylinder and the train pipe, while the opposite end of the cylinder is provided with a suitable exhaust valve 66. Thus it will'be seen that when steam is admitted to the interior of the cylinder 57 the piston rod will be forced outwardly, against the tension of the spring 59, thereby allowing a certain amount of slack in the cord 63 and permitting the frame 61 to drop by gravity to lowered or operative position so as to engage the tappet as the car travels in the direction of the switch.

The frame 61 may be locked in lowered or inoperative position by means of a lever 67, one end of which is pivotally mounted on the piston rod 58 while the other end thereof is adapted to bear against the adjacent head of the cylinder.

lVhen the supplv of air or steam to the cylinder 57 is cut ofi' and the lever 67 released the tension of the spring 59 will force the piston rod within the cylinder` and through the medium of the cable 63 automatically move the frame 61 to elevated or inoperative position.

rl'he operation of the switch is as follows: As the train approaches the switch the frame 61 of the car device is moved to lowered position, in the manner before stated, so that 'when the lip 62 rides up the curved face of the guide bars 17 it will engag1 e the adjacent tappet 16 and oscillate the shaft 15, thereby to exert a longitudinal pull on the link 13 and retract the actuating bar 12 against the tension of the spring fas the actuating bar is retracted the levers 22 will move the tread pieces 27 from the bed plate to a position above the depressible bars 25 and in the path of movement of the wheels of the passing train. d hen the locking bar 12 is moved rearwardly the pawl or dog S9 will engage the shoulder 20 so as to prevent further movement of lthe actuating` bar and thus support the tread pieces 27 in position to be engag ed by the car wheels. hen the wheels of the car engage the tread pieces the weight of the car will depress the tread pieces together with the bars 25 and through the medium of the crank arms 33 exert a longitudinal pull on the cable 36, which latter being passed around the sheave 37 and attached to the bridle bar 8 will automatically move the switch points 7 to open position so as to permit the train to pass from the main rails onto the siding. is the bridle 8 is actuated to open the switch the pin Ll1 will engage the recessed end of the pawl 39 and disengage said pawl from the shoulder 20, while at the same time the stop lug 45 will bear against the adjacent end of the head 1S so as to prevent forward movement of the actuating member after the pawl 39 is released. As soon as the weight of the car is relieved from the tread pieces the springs will automatically move the switch points to closed position. fis the switch points are moved to closed position the lug 45 will be disengaged from the adjacent end ofthe head 18 thus permitting the spring 43 to move the actuatingI bar forward or to extended position and in which position the stop lug will bear against the adjacent wall of the recess 19, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. As the train passes over the siding the wheels of the car will depress the auxiliary tread piece 46 without i affecting the movement of said switch. 5J hen the train in traveling from the sidingl on the main rails, the wheels of the car will depress the auxiliary tread piece 46 and through the medium of the stub shaft Lit@ 1 and cable 52 move the switch to open posil tion so as to -permit the passage of said train, l the stop lug 45 operating within the slot 19 when the switch is moved to open position from the siding.

From the foregoing` description, i is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible track device operatively connected with the switch point, and movable vertically in a plane substantially parallel with the roadbed, means for locking the track device in inoperative position, and means operable by a passing train for releasing said track device and actuating the same to effect the movement of the switch points.

2. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a tappet, a depressible track device operatively connected with the tappet and switch point, respectively, and movable vertically in a plane substantially parallel with the road -bed, means 'for locking the track device in inoperative position, and means operable by a passing train for actuating the tappet to release the track device and effect the movement of the switch.

3. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, atappet, a depressible track device movable vertically in a plane substantially parallel with the road-bed, a connection between the track device and tappet, means for normally locking the track device in inoperative position, means operableby a passing car for moving the track device to operative position, and a connection between the track device and switch point for moving the latter to open position when the track device is operated.

a. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member operatively connected with the switch point, a tread piece movable to operative position above the depressible member, means for locking the tread piece in inoperative position, and means operable by a passing car for moving the tread piece to operative position and effecting the movement of the switch.

5. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member operatively connected with the switch point, a tread piece movable to operative position above the depressible member, a tappet, an actuating bar operatively connected with the tread piece and tappet, respectively, said tappet being actuated by a passing car to operate the actuating bar thereby to move the tread piece to operative position.

o. iin automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member operatively connected with the switch point, a laterally movable tre-ad piece, and means operable by a passing car for moving the tread piece in engagement with the depressible member and simultaneously actuating said tread piece to eli'ect the movement oi the switch.

7i in automatic switch including the main ra'ls, switch point and siding, a deilnessible member operatively connected with the switch point, a tread piece movable to operative position above the depressible. member, means Ylior locking the tread piece in inoperative position, and means operable by a passing car Ylor moving the tread piece to Operative position and simultaneously depressing said tread piece and member 'for effecting the movement of the switch.

S. in automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible meniiier operatively connected with the switch point, an actuating member, a tread piece, a link connection betneen the tread piece and actuating member, means for supporting the tread piece in inoperative position, said tread piece being actuated. by a passing train to open the suitch, and means for automatically closing the svvitch.

9. .ein automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member, a tappet, longitiulinally movable actuating .member operatively connected v. ith the tappet, a tread piece movable to operative position in engagement n ith the depressible member, a link connection between the tread piece and actuating member, said actin cmg member being operable by a passing Arain to move the tread piece to operative position.

il). ,fin automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member, a spring pressed actuating member, a tread piece, link connection between the actuating membe and tread piece for mo ig the tread piece in engagement with the depressible member when a longitudinal movement is ci l on the actuating member, said actuating member being operable b v a passing train.

ll. An automatic switch including th main rails, switch point and siding, a bed plate, a depressible member interposed. between ihe hed pla te and one of the main rails, a longitudinally7 movable actuating member, a tread. piece movable to operative position above the depressible member, a link connection between the depressible member and actuating member, means for locking the actuating member in retracted position, and means for releasing said actuating member and operating the switch when the tread piece is depressed.

lf2. in automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a bed plate, a longitudinally movable actuating member slidably mounted on the bed plate, a depressible member interposed between. the bed plate and one of the main rails, a tread piece slidably mounted on the bed plate and movable to operative position in engagement with the depressible member, a shoulder formed on one end of the actuating member, pawl adapted to engage the shoulder for locking the actuating member in retracted position, said pawl being movable to released position n hen the tread piece is depressed.

i3. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member, a bed plate having recesses formed in one longitudinal edge thereof, a longitudinally movable actuating member, links secured to the actuating member, clips forming a pivotal connection between the links and tread piece, means for locking tbe actuating member in retracted position, and means operable by a passing train for depressing the tread piece and simultaneously releasing the actuating member thereby to move the switch to open position.

i4. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member, crank shafts operativelyT connected with the depressible member, a flexible medium fo 1ming a connection botween the crank shaft and switch point, a longitudinally movable actuating member, a tread piece movable to operative position in engagement with the deprcssible member, and a connection between the tread piece and actuating member, said tread piece being actuated by a passing car to ellect the throwing of the su itch.

15. An automatic switch including the main rails, switch point and siding, a depressible member, aV longitudinally movable actuating member, a crank shaft having a tappet, a longitudinally movable operating member operatively connected with the crank shaft, a tread piece, a connection between the tread piece and actuating member, means l'or locking the actuating member in retracted position, and means operable from a passing train 'for depressing the tread piece and at the same time releasing the actuating member thereby to move the switch to open position.

1.6. An automatic switch including the main rails, siding and switch points, a bridle bar connecting the switch points, a depressible member, a longitudinally movable actuating member having a recess formed in one end thereoi and provided with a shoulder, a tread piece movable to operative position on said depressible member, a connection between the tread piece and actuating member, a pawl adapted to engage the shoulder, said tread piece being actuated by a passing train to eii'ect the movement of the switch, and a stop lug carried by the bridle bar and adapted to engage the walls oi' the recess in the actuating member when the latter is moved to extended position.

17. An automatic switch including the main rails, siding and switch points, a bridle bar connecting the switch points, a depressible member, a bed plate, a spring pressed actuating bar slidably mounted on the bed plate and having a recess formed in one end thereof, a tread piece movable to oper ative position on the depressible member, a connection between the tread piece and actuating member, a pawl adapted to engage the recessed end ol -the actuating member for locking the latter in retracted position, a stop lug carried by the bridle bar for engagement with-said actuating member when the latter is moved to extended position, a tappet, and a connection between the tappet and the actuating member, said tappet beingl operable by a passing train to move the i I l tread piece in engagement with the depressible member.

18. An automatic switch including the main rails, siding and switch points, a bridle journaled in the bracket, a depressible member, a longitudinally movable actuating member, a tread piece movable to operative position on the depressible member, a connection between the tread piece and actuating member, a crank arm operatively connected with teh depressible member, a ilexible medium secured to the crank arm and passing around one of the pulleys oi the bracket for attachment to the bridle bar,

an auxiliary depressible member, and a flexible medium operatively connected with the auxiliary depressible member and passing over the other pulley for connection with the bridle bar.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing .3;

as my own, I have hereto ailixed my signature 1n the presence oi two witnesses.

ALEXANDER E. SQUYARS.

Witnesses z F. L. BUNDY, C. R. SANFORD. 

